The MIFF Accelerator Shorts 2 program included a staggering variety of films, all unique in terms of style and theme, but bound by a shared examination of escape, identity, and societal constraints. The diverse selection presented an invaluable insight into the potential of short films to communicate meaningful stories in a matter of minutes.

Overall it was a great time seeing all these short films, and even if the films themselves weren’t always entertaining, witnessing the audience’s reactions absolutely made up for that.

Melbourne International Film Festival has officially wrapped up, having boasted its 71st edition. After weeks of browsing through the program, swapping sessions, making and re-making calendars, and watching screeners, Eli Robinson would like to think he has a decent handle on some pretty cool short films.

The Accelerator Shorts 2 Package screened as part of the Melbourne International Film Festival.

David Robinson-Smith, director of Mud Crab (MIFF 2022), returns to MIFF 2023 with We Used To Own Houses, an explosive cine-poem about the housing crisis.

Another stellar line-up of the most imaginative pieces of art and cinema has to offer!

Absurdly and disgustingly hilarious.

A weirdo nightmare comedy going at exactly 2 horsepower (because it features two horses). 

This short goes for more of a sensory experience than a straightforward story.

Subtly satisfying and serenely unsettling.

You’ll likely not want to eat sushi again (or at least not for a while) after watching this.

Rain frogs it did!

Nowhere to Go... asks us to dive in and look closer.

I wish life was as simple as it appears in Mom’s Cat, a world where you can really just be what you want to be.

Warning: you may or may not want to quit your office job after watching, I did within 5 minutes of the film’s end. Nothing is real.

Tayamangajirri is a half-hour documentary made-to-air on NITV. The film is set in the town of Wurrumiyanga on the Tiwi Islands and follows the adults who dedicate their lives to educating and keeping the local kids safe.